UVM students push to meet with president on diversity policies

The University of Vermont is one of Burlington's oldest institutions. But how much do you know about it? Here are some facts about UVM that even alumni might not know.
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Haydee Miranda, center, and Akilah Ho-young, right, speak to supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement gathered in front of the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Monday, September 26, 2016. The demonstration was called after a BLM flag that had been flying on campus was stolen. The flag has since been raised again.(Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)Buy Photo

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: The building the students' specifically list is the George Perkins Building.

University of Vermont students pressured the school's top administrator to address what they believe to be systemic racial injustice at a noon rally Monday at the Dudley Davis Student Center.

President Tom Sullivan responded to Black Student Union, Alianza Latinx and the Asian Student Union demands late Monday night, inviting the student representatives to talk with him and other "key UVM administrative leaders."

A host of the event, UVM sophomore and Black Student Union President Harmony Edosomwan, wrote Monday on her Facebook page that a protest would be held Tuesday at the Waterman Building, pending the university administrator's response.

Edosomwan later said that the Waterman protest was on hold. She wrote in an email the talks will begin on Wednesday.

In September 2016 the campus' Black Lives Matter Flag was stolen and a rally was held on campus. The university was forced in May to publicly acknowledge that the thief was caught after student paper, the Cynic, reported the story.

The flag was hoisted that September to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement after police shot and killed black men in Tulsa and Charlotte, according to UVM's Student Government Association last year.

UVM Communications Director Enrique Corredera wrote in May 2016 that it was the university's practice not to release or discuss individual student conduct cases in accordance with federal student privacy laws.

"Our goal is to reach an understanding of the concerns received today, as well as identifying a path forward that assures progress," Sullivan stated in his response.

The students at Monday's rally had 10 demands beginning with mandatory diversity and equity training for all administrators, staff and faculty members. The listing included: hiring and retaining a diverse staff; better diversity courses taught by qualified teachers; dealing with hate crimes as an automatic expulsion; the expulsion of the student who stole the Black Lives Matter Flag; and, and renaming of the George Perkins Building.

Edosomwan wrote in an email on Tuesday the groups want both the geology building and the library to be renamed.

The university community has previously seen protests in the name of diversity. Notably, in April 18, 1988, students occupied a UVM administration building demanding commitment to a larger minority presence on campus. In April 22, 1991, 22 students took over the president's offices in the Waterman Building and issued 17 demands for greater racial awareness and presence on campus.

Current president Sullivan said the talks would last two days.

"We will continue to listen to, and work closely with, members of the university community to evolve and improve racial equality and our extensive diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives," Sullivan said.

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Haydee Miranda, center, and Akilah Ho-young, right, speak to supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement gathered in front of the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Monday, September 26, 2016. The demonstration was called after a BLM flag that had been flying on campus was stolen. The flag has since been raised again. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Akilah Ho-young, right, speaks to supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement gathered in front of the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Monday, September 26, 2016. The demonstration was called after a BLM flag that had been flying on campus was stolen. The flag has since been raised again. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement pose for a group photo after a gathering in front of the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Monday, September 26, 2016. The demonstration was called after a BLM flag that had been flying on campus was stolen. The flag has since been raised again. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Akilah Ho-young, right, speaks to supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement gathered in front of the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Monday, September 26, 2016. The demonstration was called after a BLM flag that had been flying on campus was stolen. The flag has since been raised again. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement gather in front of the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Monday, September 26, 2016. The demonstration was called after a BLM flag that had been flying on campus was stolen. The flag has since been raised again. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement gather in front of the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Monday, September 26, 2016. The demonstration was called after a BLM flag that had been flying on campus was stolen. The flag has since been raised again. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS